State Police Back on Front Burner as Reps Fast-Track Constitutional Amendment

The House of Representatives has intensified efforts to establish state police across Nigeria, signalling what could become one of the most far-reaching constitutional reforms aimed at addressing the country's worsening security challenges.

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who also chairs the House Committee on Constitution Review, disclosed that lawmakers have elevated the state police proposal above other constitutional amendment bills currently before the National Assembly.

Speaking after plenary, Kalu said the legislature considers the proposal a critical response to the growing threats posed by terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes across the country.

The bill, jointly sponsored by the Deputy Speaker and 14 lawmakers, seeks to amend relevant provisions of the Constitution to formally create state and community policing structures alongside the existing federal policing framework.

According to Kalu, years of experience have demonstrated that the current centralised policing model is increasingly overstretched and unable to adequately respond to evolving security threats in different parts of the federation.

He argued that while Parliament will continue exercising oversight over security agencies, lawmakers must also utilise constitutional and legislative tools to strengthen the nation's security architecture.

“When we say security of lives and property is the primary purpose of government, the legislature must play its role. We must deploy legislative tools to bridge the gaps that currently exist,” he said.

Kalu revealed that extensive consultations had been conducted with key stakeholders, including the Inspector-General of Police, the executive arm of government and governors from all 36 states.

According to him, there is growing consensus among political leaders that state police has become necessary to address the country's security realities.

The Deputy Speaker maintained that existing constitutional provisions do not adequately support decentralised policing and require urgent review.

He dismissed reports suggesting resistance to the proposal, insisting that lawmakers remain committed to seeing the amendment through.

The renewed push comes amid increasing calls for security reforms following repeated incidents of terrorism, mass kidnappings, farmer-herder clashes and attacks on communities across several states.

On Tuesday, the House summoned the nation's service chiefs and National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, over the deteriorating security situation.

President Bola Tinubu has also publicly expressed support for the establishment of state police, describing it as a potentially transformative step towards improving internal security.

If passed by the National Assembly and subsequently ratified by at least two-thirds of state Houses of Assembly, the amendment could fundamentally reshape Nigeria's policing structure and significantly alter the country's security landscape.